Combination conveyer and scale



March 21, 1933. J. MEHL 1,902,512

COMBINATION. convm'mn Am sens Filed May 3, 1929 ZSheets-Sheet 1 March 21, 1933. 1 MEHL 1,902,512

COMBINATION CONVEYER AND SCALE v 7 Filed May 5. 1929 '2 ShOetS-She et 2 J o E I O I? O i l j l 2' :1 Q g E I I i 2 N o 2 he I; TE- Q 0 a l g Q? a I Q 5 -1 $3 I 5 W [o] *8 f E I o 5 Q 0 a i N g 1 l 1 1 Q I; '1 T g I 2 o .i 4| 1 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR JULIUS HEEL, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOB 'I'O SWIFT A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

AND comm,

COMBINATION CONVEYER AND SCALE Application fled Kay 3, 1929. Serial No. 360,078.

This invention relates to conveyors and the like, and is illustrated herein as embodied in a conveyer of the kind that is generally employed in packing plants and such, for transporting meats rom one locality of the plant to another. More particularly, the invention relates to conveyors provided with means for weighing the meats in the course of their travel along the conveyer.

In the conveyers of the prior art, it has generally been customary to provide a conveyer track having a section that is free to move relatively to the main portion of the track and to attach a weighing apparatus to the independently movable section.

In operation, the meats are carried on hooks over the conveyer track and when the hooks pass onto the independently movable section thetravel of the hooks is momentarily suspended, the weighing operation is performed,

and thereafter the hooks continue their travel. In most instances, the independently movable section is: located: normally in alinement with the remaining portion of the conveyer track, but this arrangement is subject to criticism for the reason that when one of the hooks having a piece of meat suspended thereon moves onto the movable section the latter drops downwardly owing to the increased welght being placed upon it and when the weighing operation is completed it' is necessary to move the hook and the suspended meat upwardly to regain the level of the main portion of the track.

Having the foregoing considerations in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyer in which the weighing operation is performed without interruptingthe travel of the meat upon the conveyer. In a somewhat different aspect, an important object of the invention consists in providing a conveyer of this character having a continuous and uninterrupted track, by means of which the weighing operation is performed without allowing the hook and suspended meat to drop, and without necessitating the former operation of lifting the hook and meat at the completion of the operation to restore them to the level of the main portion of the conveyer track.

"carriers upon reaching the weighing afpaaccompanying drawings,

An important feature of the invention which tends toward the accomplishment of the recited objects consists in the provision of a conveyer comprising a continuous track, a pluralit of meat suspending members carr1ed by t e conveyer and means associated therewith for weighing the meats suspended by the members, independently of the remaming parts of the conveyer. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a number of carriers are arranged to travel over i a continuous conveyer track and these car- IleIS are provided with hooks so mounted that the hooks may move relatively to the ratus and be weighed independently the along the track. necessa in the carriers that are travelin Thus, the movement that is weighing operation is not impar to the carrier, nor to a movable section of track, but rather to the hooks or suspendin members which in no wise interferes with t e continuous travel of the carriers.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification in the light of the in which- Flgure l, is a view in front elevation of a fragment of a conveyer and a weighing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the conveyer apparatus ure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation with certain parts broken away, the more clearly to illustrate the relationship between the conveyer and the weighing apparatus; and

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of one of the parts of the conveyer.

As shown in the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates a conveyer track and although only a fragment of the track is illustrated in the drawings, it is to be under- 95 stood that the track is continuous and un-' broken and may be of any length desired.

As shown in Figure 2, the track is composed of a plurality of spaced angle irons 12, 14 that extend parallel to one another and are 100 artly in section isclosed in Figcsrriecl upon the inwardly extencling lower extremities of brackets 16 which depend at intervals irons an overhead beam 18.

Associate& with the conveyor track 10, is s conveyor chain 20 of the ordinary double her link variety emit mounted st equal intervols along this chsin are carriers 22 that are provided with suspension members 2% here in illustrated in the form of hooks. Each 10 carrier comprises, generally speaking, an upper platform member 26 upon the opposite sides of which are mounted; a plursliiy of Wheels Q8, 38 which ere srrsngeol to run ever she conveyor iiscli: ll) sncl there. so suppers 1 'rhe conveyor chain with. respect the Adlisceni; iso-lhe opposite ends of the platioriii am connecting pins 32 end 3% converticslly exsencli g rods or hers le through one thence the chem iii) carry WfiSi'lQTS, 3% carrier is provisos. with oi: o; he connecsing pins or gnirle l, he ohssrveoln "she spew 25% are e' noose, L oer-Jain of we sie iis l so the "hich they are mounted. in Fi she suspension meroh 14- senile side -171 n which she hens e25- ok extends, o of or; ss bee given relates only if s T: a f A. 2'.

conveyor .l v e, monnced on the lower siers "ongh prov i move vesiticeii relscivew carriers she convey e2 en jl so she on s morals E9, lgure 2) iii-clics'fe .s 1, 7 spacerl irons suspended suiiohle lnrsckeis i'sngecl to carry on shsir opposeol '"s of" r clearly supporting at are csr'rie i hy the connectwe owing to this fact, in she 10ers of sppersiiis, the slerl on onizo the rollerslifi is rsiserl ccupiss posiizion show; oi

she heighi oi? portion of the of she connecting pins 32 and is to he observed from Fi re 1 that the tracks 50 and 52 are short in ength and actually comprise only sections. Also, let it be not-iced that to facilitate the passing of the sled 4E0 onio the rollers, the rollers at the entering end of the tracks 50, 52 are located somewhat lower than the adjacent rollers and. the forward e lges of the sleds are curved upwardly in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Thus, it will be seen at this point that in the ordinary operation of things the con- Joy-er runs along until a carrier passes over that poriion of she main conveyor track lo cecerl shove the sectional creeks Whcreiipon the sled engages and rides upon the rollers 56 cerriccl by the sectional tracks. Therefore. the entire Weight of the sled encl of the suspeno ing member Whsireves ohjeei is carried thereby are transferred from the carrier to the rollers and sectional tracks enrl so if she sectionei ti-solos should he connectecl Wish W ighing csrsiecl by the suspension he occnmire ly cletesniincd.

[is hereinbeiore pointed out the conveyor provides? means :ior Weighing a y the manner just outiihis is shown in i o connecting the cadembers so one sive to o.

upon she 'l-iElClES 5% im oose Ami so in the nse lhe .v wels .ieiniioe iy over en unlarch-so so one he "Weighs cer erl by ihe suspension members is cletei'rnine A irlepenclencl y of the other of? Jolie conveyor. By

means such. izhe Weighing is rendered. more cl e ie is of conveying il'leiz'i35 o oiaher oh rests, .oin point to P031131},

Although the invention has been descrihecl herein with particular reference to ironsporiinl owl Weighing oi meats and the like it is to be clearly iinclerstoofl and appreciated ihst the invention is much Wider in scope ancl application, and is me assuredly not to he limiuecl so the hype of goods transported.

Eiirnilearly from time is time, changes en. modifications may he made in e illustrated irons 50 and 52 can embodiment of the invention without departing in the slightest from the true scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

The angle irons 50 and 52 may be properly referred to and described as transversely spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending, platform supporting bars WhlCh' are supported in said spaced relationship upon 0 posite sides of the path of travel of the hoo s or supporting members 24 that depend from the central ortion of the sled or plate member 40 by tiie stirrups or the bracket means that comprises the spaced brackets 54 of the weighing platform construction of the weighing means. It will be noted that the stirrup means straddles the conveying element whereby the parallel latform bars or angle be held upon opposite sides of the travel of the hooks 24 so that the opposite sides of the plate member or sled 40 can be lifted and the plate thus be held solely supported in lifted position through the medium of the anti-friction rollers 56 that are on the parallel platform supporting bars. It will also be noted that when the sled or plate 40 is thus held in elevated position, it can be moved horizontally or in a forward longitudinal direction under the influence of the vertically extending guide bars whereby the weighing operation can be carried out during this movement of the plate or sled without affecting the weighing operation which is carried out during this time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. Conveying and weighing means com: prising in combination a horizontally movmg conveying element having vertically extendmg guide rodsdepending therefrom, a"

horizontally extending plate normally supported from the lower ends of said rods but in a manner to permit movement of the plate in respect to its vertically extending guide rods. which said guide rods are relied upon to effect horizontal movement of the plate as the conveying element moves, a hook or supporting means depending from the central portion of said plate, and horizontally extending weighing latform bars sup orted and held in spaced parallel relations ip in respect to each other by depending stirrup means that straddles the conveying eement and that constitutes part of the weighing platform of the weighing means. said parallel weighing platform bars each having a series of longitudinally spaced rollers thereuponand being arranged in respect to the horizontally moving conveying element in such a manner that the opposite longitudinally extending edge portions of the plate during the travel of the plate past the weighing means must ride upon sa d series of rollers in a manner to be lifted thereby and to be completely supported thereby whereby a weighing operation can be carried out while the plate is being moved horizontally and while it is completely supported on the parallel weighing platform bars through the medium of said series of rollers thereupon.

2. In a conveying and weighing means, in combination, a continuously moving conveying element supporting a horizontally extending plate movable therewith but in a manner to permit vertical movement of the plate in respect to vertically extending guide bars with which the conveying element is provided and which guide bars are relied u on to effect continuous movement of the p ate as the conveying element moves, a hook or supporting means depending from said plate, and horizontally extending platform ars supported and held in spaced relationship in respect to each other by stirrup means constituting part of the wei hing platform of the weighing means, sai platform bars each having a series of longitudinally spaced rollers thereupon and being arranged in respect to the continuously moving conveying element in such a manner that the opposite longitudinally extending edge portions of the plate during the travel of the plate past the weighing means must ride upon said series of rollers in a manner to be lifted thereby and in a manner to be completely supported thereby whereby a weighing operation can be carried out while the plate is being moved longitudinally and while the plate is completely supported on said bars of the weighing platform through the mediumof said series of rollers thereupon.

3. An installation comprising a combined conveying and weighing means having in operative combination a continuous track comprising transversely spaced longitudinally and horizontally extending track members, an endless chain continuously movable along and in relation to said track members, longitudinally spaced longitudinally extendcarrying members having supporting 1n rofiers at opposite sides thereof that travel along said track members, said endless chain being supported and carried by said carrying mem ers by being connected to the ends of said carrying members, a set of spaced vertically extending guide rods secured to and carried by each of certain of said longitudinally extending carrying members, a sled or horizontally extending plate member for each of said sets of guide rods and slidably supported in association therewith, a supporting means or hook carried by and depending from said sled or plate member, a pair of parallel longitudinally extending platform members each having a series of longitudinally spaced anti-friction roller members thereupon, and longitudinally spaced supporting brackets constituting part of the weighing platform of the weighing means, 5 which brackets said longitudinal h iotion rollers we the Weigg operation ly exten platform members are secured is be carried out. and carried in such a position and relation Signed at Omaha, Nebraska, this 26th day ship that as -seid endless chain travels it of April, 1929, y 5 causes through the medium of said guide Alil JULLUS ME. 70

rods the opposite side portions of said sled or plots to move upon end along the series oi anti-friction roller members injs, manner whereby each sled or plate is successively 19 lifted from its support inrespect to itscom penion or corresponding longitudinally extending carrying member -vve still being moved longitudinally under the influence oi the moving guide rods, the construction be 35 in such that while each sled or plate is thus he d in elevated position by the anti-friction roller members it is thereby supported in s substantially horizontal position While the Weighing operation is being carried out. 39 4:. An installation comprising or combined conveying and Weighing means having in operative combination e continuous truck construction comprising in at least a portion thereoi transversely spaced longitudinelly and horizontally extending track members, an endless chain movable along and in reletion to said truck members, longitudinally seed carrying members having supporting rollers at opposite sides thereof that travel 30 along said track members, said endless chain being normally supported and carried by said carrying members, a set of spaced vertically extendmg guide rods secured to and carried by each ofcert'ain of said longitu: dinally extending carrying members, a sled or horizontally extending plate member for each of said sets'of guide rods and slidably supported in association therewith, a. mapporting means or hook carried by and e pending from said sled or plate member, s pair ofparellel longitudinally and horizontally extending platform members each hav ing a series of longitudinally spaced antifrlction rollers thereupon and supporting brackets constituting part of the weighing platform of the Wei hing means and by which supporting brac ets said longitudinally extending platform members are supported and held in place, the position and arrangement of said platform members being such that as said endless chain travels it causes opposite side portions of said sled or plate member to move upon and along the series of anti-friction rollers or rolling members in a manner whereby each sled or plate is successively lifted from its support in re spect to its compsnion orcorrespondingcerrying member While still being moved longitudinully under the influence of the horizontslly moving vertically extending guide rods,the construction also being such that While each sled or plate member is thus held in elevated position by the entiiriction roll 1 plate is supported a, substantive" position by means oi staid ontr 

